"If my health allows me, then I want to carry on playing. I would like to stay at Barca, but that depends on them," Abidal told radio station RAC1. "I have had no offers from other clubs, although I have had many contacts. But Barca have treated me very well."

Abidal went on to pay tribute to his cousin, the organ donor who saved his life, insisting it is he who should be congratulated for the player's recovery.

“Surgeons told me which donors were most likely to be accepted, although at first I did not want a living donor," Abidal said. "My best friend was also compatible, but they ended up choosing my cousin. My cousin should be congratulated, because he is more a symbol than I am. The star belongs to him.

“After the cancer, I see life differently, although I’m still the same person. The word 'cancer' is very strong.

"At first, when you talk to the doctors, it makes you scared. I reacted quite badly, but then I accepted it, because I am a very positive person.

"What I said was that I had to come back to playing as soon as possible. I was not afraid. The doctors were very professional and I went into the operating room with confidence."